U of I ethics memo irks some faculty members

A memo sent to University of Illinois faculty last week, reminding them that campaigning for a particular candidate or political party on campus is unethical, has ruffled some feathers.

Chris Dettro

A memo sent to University of Illinois faculty last week, reminding them that campaigning for a particular candidate or political party on campus is unethical, has ruffled some feathers.

But a university spokesman said Thursday there’s no way to prevent anyone from expressing their opinion.

Tom Hardy, executive director of university relations for the U of I system, which includes campuses in Urbana, Chicago and Springfield, said the school’s ethics office used a periodic newsletter to remind people of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act of 2003.

“It spells out a lot of dos and don’ts for state employees, no matter where they work,” Hardy said.

Cary Nelson, a U of I English professor and president of the American Association of University Professors, said in a memo sent to faculty Wednesday that there is concern about how the university has interpreted the state’s ethics rules.

He cited the ethics office’s declaration that it is unethical to attend campus rallies for candidates, to wear buttons endorsing political candidates or political parties on campus or to place comparable bumper stickers on cars to be parked in university-owned lots.

“Faculty are understandably concerned about the administration’s critique of such forms of free speech and political expression as they have been exercised without controversy for years,” Nelson wrote in the memo.

“Although these rules are not at present being enforced, the AAUP deplores their chilling effect on speech, their interference with the educational process, and their implicit castigation of normal practice during political campaigns.”

Nelson said faculty also are concerned that the ethics office hasn’t correctly recognized “the special context of a university and the role of its faculty members.”

“Campus education requires that faculty and students have comparable freedom of expression on political subjects,” he said.

Hardy said the ethics office received inquires about how the act applied to political campaigning.

“Some folks were wondering what is appropriate,” he said.

“There weren’t any new rules created by the university,” he added. “It was to remind employees that they should be mindful of the act. There was no intention to stifle anyone’s political expression.”

Hardy said “most rational people taking a common-sense approach to what the law is won’t have any problems.”

Chris Dettro can be reached at (217) 788-1510 or chris.dettro@sj-r.com.